Sign.



J. D. IVIUMFORD..l

Smm .wlfLlcAnoN FILEUMAY 4. 1916.

Patented Jan. 29,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.l

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WITNESSES l. l).l WIUNIFORD. -SGN.

Arme/mou vman MAY 4, 191e.

I'Patented Jan. 29,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

O 'G G INVENTOR `ATTORNEY J. D. MUMFORD.

SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1916.

Patented Jan. 29, 1918. i

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

EN avv-sami INVENTOR Jizfzjifzmzfmdg ATTOHN EY JOHN D. MUMFORD, 0F SILVER CREEK, NEW YORK.

SIGN.

Application led May 4, 1916.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I. JoHN D. MUMFORD, a citizen of the V,lnited States, residing at Silver Creek, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the follmvingl is a specification.

My invention relates to signs.

The invention has more especial reference to a device of the character stated, that is so constructed as to provide what may be termed, a daylight sign and also an illuminated sign, for use during darkness and it is tho primary object of the invention to provide such a sign as above outlined, which may be used for displaying the license number of a motor or other vehicle, in a manner as will permit the saine to be readily discernible.

Another important. characteristic of the invention, resides in the novel construction and arrangement of a rotary globe, which globe is provided with means engageable therewith, whereby the same, will at all times, be maintained free from dust and other foreign matter.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a casing or housing for the rotary globe which housing has arranged therein, suitable reflectors whereby the light rays may be projected forwardly and onto a license number in such a manner as to facilitate the displaying thereof. v

The improvements in the details and arrangement of parts will be apparent from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in connection with the specilic description hereinafter contained, and wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed for the purposevof imparting a full understanding of the invention.

In'th'e drawings r- VFigure 1 is a top plan;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the device; f

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4 1 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a front elevation.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like `or corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, I provide a casin 1, which is constructed with inclined wallgportions 2, which portions are offset from the main body thereof as at 3 Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. sa, i918.

Serial No. 95,413.

and form a substantially V-shaped rear wall. The forward end of the casing 1 has its bottom inclined as at 4, while the extreme end thereof, is open and is provided with a marginal flange as designated at 5, whereby the license plate 6 may be secured thereto by means of rivets 7. This license plate is constructed upon the principle of the usual stencil, in order to permit the rays of light to be projected through the openings, thus, providing means whereby the license number may be clearly distinguished in darkness. To provide means whereby access may be had to the interior of the casing, an opening is made in one of the side wall portions 2 and is normally closed by a door 8, which is hinged to the bottom of the casing as at 9 and has arranged upon its opposite marginal edge, a hasp 10 which is receivable over a staple 11, wherebyV a locking pin 12 may be passed through the staple and engaged with the adjacent portion of the hasp in'order that the same may be locked in position. 1t is to be noted, that thevertically disposed portion of the door 8, is so formed as to engage the adjacent side wall portion 2 and thereby, prevent the escape of the light.

A lampr 13 is arranged interiorly of the casing 1 at a point in proximity to the V- shaped rear end 3, and issupported inposition by means of a sleeve 14, which is enlarged as at 15 and provided with complemental screw threads whereby the threaded base of the lamp may be turned into engagement therewith. The sleeve 14 is in turn supported by a yoke member 16, having a suitable opening adjacent one of its lateral extremities into which the said sleeve is forced. The lower extremity of the yoke member 16 is passed through an opening formed in the rear end vof the casing at a point adjacent its bottom, and has arranged upon the outer end thereof, a bifurcated bracket member 17, the side portions of which are curved, for a purpose which shall be subsequently apparent, the curved portions terminating in apertured ears 18 whereby a locking bolt 19 may be passed therethrough. The `upper lateral extremity ofthe yoke 16v has arranged thereupon, a circular head 20, which is passed through an adjacent opening formed in the casing 1, to constitute an eiiicient bearing surface.

A supporting post 21 provided with screw threads which are arranged thereabout is receivable within the complementally threaded bifurcated bracket member 17 and has formed upon its upper extremity, a socket The supporting post 211 is securely held in an adjusted position by tightening the locking bolt 19, which serves to bind the side portions of the bifurcated bracket upon the post and consequently, preventing further movement thereof. A rotatable supporting cup 23, provided with a depending lug 24k, arranged concentrically thereof is received by the socket of the supporting post Q1. Suitable anti-friction bearings 25 are interposed between the adjacent faces of the socket member and the supporting cup, complemental race ways being formed in the said faces, whereby the bearings may be held in position. A cylindrical globe 26 is carried b v the supporting cup 23, packing 27 arranged adjacent the side wall of the cup whereby the lower marginal edge of the globe may be efficiently supported in position. A cap 23 is arranged upon the upper n'iarginal edge of the globe 26 and is provided with an Vannular packing or washer 29, similar to the packing 27, for a purpose which is obvious. In order that the globe 2G may be held in its vertical position, the cap is provided with a concentric opening, whereby the sleeve 11i is permitted to pass therethrough. An enlarged circular bearing head 30 is arranged about the said concentric opening and is receivable within a complementally formed seat 31, arranged in the lower face of the head 20 carried by the upper lateral extremity of the yoke 16. Anti-friction bearings 32 are positioned between the adjacent faces of the circular bearing head 30 and the complementally formed seat 31, these bearings being held in position by means of race ways, similar to those used in conjunction with the bearings 25.

A cog wheel 33 is affixed to the circular bearing head 30 and is meshed with a gear 3f, rotatably supported upon a stub shaft 35, the upper portion of which is provided with a transversely disposed key way 36 whereby connection may be made with some suitable driving means, the said stub shaft being ournaledin the upper lateral extremity of the yoke 16.V

Angular brackets 37 and 38 aresecured to the side Wall portions 2 by means of fastening devices as indicated at 39, and serve to carry cleaning strips 10, the said strips being so arranged as to be constantly engaged with the sides of the cylindrical globe 26 and of such size as to accord with the exposed portion thereof. These cleaning strips are preferably formed from rubber. However, any suitable substance may be substituted such as conditions or preference may dictate,

lVith a view toward providing means whereby the structure as an entirety may be allixed to a suitable support upon a vehicle, an extended flange Ll1 is formed upon the vertically disposed portion of the yoke 1G and is provided with a series of spaced openings lf2, which serve as means for re ceiving the usual fastening bolts whereby the device may be attached.

The inner faces of the V-shaped end Wall are highly polished thus, enabling the same to serve as reflectors whereby the light rays from the lamp 13 may be projected forwardly onto the license plate 6.

In operation, current is supplied to the incandescent lamp 13, whereupon, the light rays as emitted therefrom, will be projected forwardly ontothe license plate. In devices of this character, the lamps are subjeeted to dust and other foreign matter which accumulates thereon, and in time dims to a material extent, the projection of the light rays. In vmy device, the globe 26 is rotated, by means of its connection with the stub shaft 35, which is in turn, connected by flexible shafting or the like, to some suitable driving means arranged upon the vehicle. During rotation of the globe, the same will be cleaned due to its contact with the strips 40, which are normally engaged therewith and supported by the annular brackets 37 and 38. By this arrangement, it will be obvious that should the globe be covered with dust or the like, the same will be instantaneously removed therefrom and thus. prevent the dimming of the light rays from the lamp 13.

As will be understood from the foregoing,

I employ an incandescent lamp as the illuminating means, however attention is d`1- rected to the fact that an oil lamp or any other form of illuminating burner may` be substituted in lieu thereof, this being at the option of the user. Y While I have herein disclosed a specific embodiment of the invention, it Will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, that the invention is capable of embodiment in other forms and devices differing in detail and arrangement from that shown, as may be in keeping with the hereto appended claims.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. A sign including a casing having vconverging rear side portions polished to form a reflector, a yoke secured to the casing having a flange for supporting the easing, on a bracket, the yoke having 'portions extending into the casing and having a clamp at the bottom and a bearing at thetop, a bracket member held by the clamp, a globey having caps provided with bearing portions for engaging the bracket at the bottom and the bearing portion of the yoke 2115 the top,

means for rotating the globe and caps in the respective bearinf's, and a lamp supported by the yoke anda disposed in the globe.

2. In a device of the class described, coniprising a casing, a yoke having portions extending into the casing and having a Clamp at the bottom and a bearing at the top, a bracket member' held by the clamp, a globe having caps provided with bearing portions for engaging the bracket at the bottom and the bearing portion of the yoke at the top, means for rotating the globe and caps in the respective bearings, and a lamp supported by the yoke and disposed in the globe.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing, a yoke secured to said casing and having a flared portion supporting the casing, said yoke having portions extending into said easing and having a clamp at the bottom and a bearing head at the top, a globe positioned Within said casing', means for rotatably supporting said globe upon said clamp and said bearing head, means for rotating said globe, and a lamp supported by said yoke and interposed in said globe.

el. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing, a one-piece yoke secured to said casing for supporting the same, said yoke having portions extending into said easing. a globe positioned Within said casing and carried by said yoke, whereby said globe is carried independently of said easing, and a lamp supported by said yoke and interposed in said globe.

. In a device or' the class described, the

globe and combination of a casing, a'one-piece yoke secured to said easing and projecting thereinto, said yoke supporting said casing, a globe positioned within said casing, means for rotatably supporting said globe upon said yoke, means for rotating said globe, and a lamp supported by said yoke and in-v terposed in said globe.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a easing, a one-piece U shaped yoke secured to said casing and supporting the same, said yoke extending into said casing, a globe positioned Within said casing and carried by said yoke, whereby said globe is carried independently of said casing, a lamp supported by said yoke and interposed in said globe and supporting means formed upon said yoke.

7 In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing, a one-piece U shaped yoke secured to said casing and projecting thereinto, a supporting ange formed upon said yoke, vsaid yoke supporting said casing, a globe positioned Within said casing, means for rotatably supporting said globe. upon said yoke and independently of said easing, means for rotating said a lamp supported on said yoke and interposed `in said globe.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN D. MUMFORD.

fitnessesz i FLORENCE L. GRAVES, DELMAR U. HERRICK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of'latentsJ Washington, D. C. 

